The Regional Challenge Research Initiative (RCRI) is a multi-country, challenge-driven applied research grants initiative.

The RCRI funds 12- to 15-month collaborative projects that produce practical tools, models, knowledge and data that can be adapted across diverse Asia-Pacific contexts, aligned to specific challenges facing the Asia-Pacific region. Three challenges will be issued, and successful projects will be those that demonstrate the highest potential to address the challenge.

Programme highlights

• Grant funding of between AUD $50,000 and up to $145,000
• Supports cross-border collaboration in Asia and the Pacific – regional consortia involving one Australian organisation and at least two other institutions based in the Asia-Pacific, excluding Australia.
• Supports cross-sectoral collaboration – researchers are invited to apply with partners outside academia including industry, government, philanthropy and civil society organisations.
• Practical outputs and/or translation pathway encouraged.

About the Alpha Cohort of RCRI

The Alpha Cohort is the first funding round of the Regional Challenge Research Initiative. The Alpha Cohort will deliver multi-country applied research projects that address the challenge of circular economy, waste reduction and sustainable resource use for regional resilience in the Asia-Pacific region. 

An approximate total of AUD $580,000 is available for this round. The program is expected to fund 4-5 collaborative projects, with individual grants of between AUD $50,000 and AUD $145,000. Projects must be completed within 12–15 months.

For this round, Circular Economy should be understood as practical system change that improves how materials and resources are designed, produced, used, retained, recovered and reintegrated across supply chains and communities.

Competitive proposals will show how the project can contribute to value retention, resource efficiency and regional resilience, with clear pathways to adoption and benefit in diverse Asia-Pacific contexts.

• Call opens: 19 August 2026
• Applications close: Monday, 5 October 2026 at 11:59PM AEDT